Friday, October 10, 2008

Abraham's Salvation

I believe that Abraham was saved in Genesis 12. I believe this because Abraham's true faith showed through the actions he made and his obedience. His faith was evident through his obedience to God of leaving his country and his family. He believed what God had promised him.
“And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
[3] And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
And because he believed what God promised, he obeyed and left everything behind for a land that God would show him. “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
Although in Romans 4 it states, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [3] For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” Paul is speaking to the new believers in Rome and setting a foundation for their faith. He speaks of being in complete submission which Abraham did when he obeyed God in complete submission and left his family and home. James agrees with, “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ [19] You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. [20] But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? [22] You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James was speaking to believers who had an unreal faith because they did not show it through their actions. He taught that genuine faith produced good deeds and actions that show our faith to be real to us.
Galatians states, “Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. [7] Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. [8] The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations will be blessed in you.’ [9] So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” Again this faith was showed by the obedience and action of Abraham and not by faith alone.
In Genesis 15 when it says, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness,” it is speaking just of one instance where Abraham believed. In Hebrews 11, it states multiple times where Abraham believed and showed that he believed by his actions. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. [9] By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.” “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son.” And so Romans, Ephesians, and Galatians agree that one is saved through faith. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live BY FAITH.” “Since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.” “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’”
In conclusion, since Abraham obeyed God in Genesis 12, he already believed God. His obedience was in response to his faith. This is relevant throughout the Bible that man shows his faith again and again by his actions. We do not gain salvation by these actions, but they are a direct result of our salvation which is though faith alone as Abraham showed.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

you are so amazing. :) i cant wait to get there so you can help me!!!! you are soo smart.. and i am sooo lucky to have you in my ilfe.

A+ paper. :) i love you!